I’m getting all my plans finalized for this year’s Sundance Film Festival, which starts on January 17th. As always, my schedule is packed as I plan to see as many movies as I possibly can before I either burn out or simply run out of caffeine.
As is usually the case, I find myself staring at the schedule and reeling at the endless possibilities. Do I really want to see that movie? Don’t I want to see that one at a public screening so I can attend the Q&A session? Crap, do I really have enough time for that Q&A or do I have to hurry along to my next movie?
Sundance covers 11 days. Nine of those days are chock-full of movies. Opening night only has four films picked to open the festival, and the last day is all about the awards and their respective banquets, but those nine days in the middle are a filmaholic’s dream.
Before the festival begins, I find myself trying to cram in as many films as humanly possible. Eating and sleeping can wait; this only comes once a year. However, I inevitably bite off more than I can chew and have to pare down my list accordingly.
As of right now, I have 38 films tentatively planned. Because of scheduling conflicts, late buses and possible starvation, this schedule is sure to change. However, if past years are any indication, about 75% of this plan will stay the same. If I end up seeing 38 films, that will be a personal record for me at the festival. Last year I saw around 30.
I try to squeeze in as many public screenings as I can. Press members are allowed to request up to two tickets to public screenings per day. (Note: The 9:00 AM screenings don’t count toward this total.) Public screenings are certainly my preference. Press screenings are full of industry folks who only end up watching about 10-20 minutes of any given movie and then walking out. They’re also constantly on their phones, which is irritating to no end. But the real reason why attending public screenings are so fun is that the directors usually show up with most of their casts. It’s one of the rare times that the moviegoing public can directly interact with filmmakers right after seeing a movie. Sure, there are always some stupid questions, but on the whole, the Q&A sessions are totally worth it.
Jan. 17 (Opening Night)
6:30 PM – ‘May in the Summer‘
10:00 PM – ‘Twenty Feet from Stardom‘
Jan. 18
11:30 AM – ‘The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete‘
3:30 PM – ‘Mud‘
8:00 PM – ‘The Spectacular Now‘ (Public screening)
Jan. 19
9:00 AM – ‘Don Jon’s Addiction‘ (Public screening)
12:00 PM – ‘Touchy Feely‘ (Public screening)
2:30 PM – ‘Kill Your Darlings‘
7:00 PM – ‘Sightseers‘
Jan. 20
9:00 AM – ‘The Look of Love‘ (Public screening)
11:30 AM – ‘Concussion‘
2:30 PM – ‘Linsanity‘
5:30 PM – ‘In a World…‘ (Public screening)
9:30 PM – ‘Escape from Tomorrow‘
Jan. 21
9:00 AM – ‘Stoker‘ (Public screening)
12:30 PM – ‘Two Mothers‘
3:30 PM – ‘The Way, Way Back‘ (Public screening)
6:30 PM – ‘Blackfish‘
8:30 PM – ‘The Lifeguard‘ (Public screening)
Jan. 22
9:00 AM – ‘The East‘ (Public screening)
11:30 AM – ‘We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks‘
2:30 PM – ‘Prince Avalanche‘
6:30 PM – ‘Ain’t Them Bodies Saints‘ (Public screening)
9:30 PM – ‘Computer Chess‘ (Public screening)
Jan. 23
9:00 AM – ‘Lovelace‘ (Public screening)
12:00 PM – ‘Hell Baby‘
2:30 PM – ‘The Summit‘ (Public screening)
6:00 PM – ‘Milkshake‘ (Public screening)
8:30 PM – ‘Very Good Girls‘
Jan. 24
9:00 AM – ‘A.C.O.D.‘ (Public screening)
11:30 AM – ‘Afternoon Delight‘ (Public screening)
3:00 PM – ‘Toy’s House‘ (Public screening)
Jan. 25
9:00 AM – ‘Sweetwater‘ (Public screening)
12:00 PM – ‘C.O.G.‘ (Public screening)
2:30 PM – ‘Breathe In‘ (Public screening)
Jan. 26
9:00 AM – ‘jOBS‘ (Public screening)
2:30 PM – ‘Upstream Color‘ (Public screening)
6:00 PM – ‘Ass Backwards‘ (Public screening)
As you can see, my schedule is unquestionably stuffed. There’s also some room to add more films since the press office still has yet to schedule press screenings for the 24th and 25th. Those days are usually reserved to re-show some of the more popular movies that get buzz earlier in the week. When the schedule gets updated, I’ll be able to catch up on some films that I may have missed.
It’s going to be a crazy year up at the festival, but since Luke isn’t attending this year (he just told me about his decision to not go, which makes me sad), I’ll cover as much stuff as I possibly can. I hope you’ll join me. It’s always fun conversing with HDD readers while I’m up there in Park City. Remember to follow me on Twitter @AaronPeck for up-to-the-minute updates, and keep a look out for my day-by-day journals on the High-Def Digest homepage.
Aaron Peck
AuthorOther movies I didn’t list that I’ll still try to see if possible: ‘Charlie Victor Romeo’, ‘Before Midnight’, ‘A Teacher’, ‘Virtually Heroes’, ‘Valentine Road’, ‘Dirty Wars’, ‘Manhunt’, and ‘Magic Magic’.
JM
You’re not going to attempt Jane Campion’s six-hour film of silent despair and the limits of the human condition?
Aaron Peck
AuthorI’ll watch it on the Sundance Channel when they release it as a six-part mini-series. No need to sit in a theater for six hours straight.
JM
Why are all the sex films at 9:00 AM?
Aaron Peck
AuthorTo wake you up.
The Kink.com documentary is at midnight for most of the festival. Sundance After Hours.
JM
I’m going to have a hard time watching ‘Lovelace’ knowing that she’s secretly enjoying a popsicle.
Aaron Peck
AuthorAre you excited to see James Franco’s take on the missing footage from ‘Cruising’?
JM
I’m slowly inoculating myself to James Franco.
‘About Cherry’ I liked the poster and the teaser, is on the Q.
‘Howl’ I thought disrespected my Ginsberg.
I’d rather have William Friedkin’s ‘Cruising’ on blu-ray…
But I’ll probably check out ‘Interior. Leather Bar’ for the mumbleporn dudity. I’m not happy they shot it hardcore, then censored it into “art”
2014 is where all my James Franco anticipation is. His self-published book of poetry ‘Directing Herbert White.’
The dude’s just throwing noodles at the wall.
Aaron Peck
AuthorHa. Thanks for the noodle throwing comment. That made me laugh.
William Henley
I honestly don’t know how you do it. By the end of the 21st, I think I would be in a Stooper, not able to process anything else for weeks. By the end of the 26th, I would be in a coma. Do you just do nothing but Beef Jerkey and Monster for 10 days, and then check yourself into a hospital? I honestly just do not see how this schedule is humanly possible.
Aaron Peck
AuthorThe fact that this only happens once a year keeps me going. That, and I just love being up there with all the action, and getting a chance to see a bunch of new films no one has seen before.
Healthy snacks are crucial though. I pack along a lot of granola bars and other easy to eat, but filling snacks. There are a lot of quick food options up there by the theaters so I take advantage. But yeah, Red Bull is a main staple for me.